Azareth sat in the thrown room, she looked out at the faces of her trusted advisors. She glanced to her left and saw her parents standing looking horrified. Sana was looking at her wide-eyed, she then turned and stared at Jurah and Artibain. Midrina was standing right next to her looking worried as Azareth chewed on her finger nail. Azareth had come clean to her family, explaining everything that had been going on behind the peaceful facade.

“You’re telling me you were nearly killed last night?” Faylen finally spoke up. Azareth nodded and looked at her mother’s hurt face. Faylen sighed deeply, shaking her head and turning away from Azareth. Faylen’s soft sobbing filled the room and she walked away from the group, heading for the door.

“Mother,” Azareth said. Hastos put his hand up to stop her. Azareth turned to her father and saw he looked just as hurt.

“Let her go,” Hastos said. Azareth sat back in her throne, she shook her head and rubbed her face.

“Father, I swear, I never meant any of this to happen.”

“Azareth, you’re mother doesn’t handle conflict well,” Hastos told her. He looked up and smiled weakly at his daughter. “I am sorry you’ve had to shoulder all this weight.”

“I wasn’t alone,” Azareth said. “Jurah, Artibain and Midrina have been helping me. I would like to hear your thoughts, seeing how you’ve worked with King Halamar for so many years.”

“I don’t like the idea of you meeting with this so called king, but,” Hastos said. He released a deep sigh and looked up at Azareth. “I do know if you go to war, Truffween will fight along side you.”

“Thank you father,” Azareth said. “Please go see mother, she is distraught.” Hastos nodded and left to go check on his wife. Sana cleared her throat and Azareth looked to her friend.

“I’m sorry,” Sana said. “I shouldn’t have been rude to you this morning, you have so much to worry about.” Azareth stood up and walked down to her friend. She reached out and pulled Sana into her arms. The two hugged and Azareth felt ready to cry.

“Sana, I am terrified,” Azareth whispered. “What am I supposed to do?”

“You know what to do,” Sana sniffed. She pulled away and looked into Azareth’s eyes. Sana lifted her hands and took a hold of Azareth’s face. “You are an wonderful queen, but you are an even more amazing person. You know can do this.”

“Azareth, please don’t do this,” Jurah said appearing at her side. Azareth looked over at him and smiled weakly.

“I have to,” Azareth said. “It’s my duty to protect my people.” The room was silent and Azareth shook her head. She knew no one was going to approve of her decision, but she knew this was something that she needed to do.

“Midrina, please write to King Halamar,” Azareth said staring at Jurah. “Please inform him of my plan and ask him to send troops to Berlar. With his help hopefully we can survive if war breaks out.”

“Yes, your majesty,” Midrina said. She wondered off to go send off the letter. Azareth looked away from Jurah and over at Artibain.

“While I’m away, you two are in charge, but listen to Midrina.”

“Azareth, you can’t be serious?” Artibain asked. “This is suicide, you know that right?”

“I’ll be fine, have faith,” Azareth said.

“I will help them,” Sana said to Azareth. Azareth smiled gratefully at Sana, then glanced to see Jurah was looking at the ground.

“I’ll see you all at dinner, alright? I have to go organise a few things,” Azareth said. She left the throne room. Her breath caught in her throat as she let a few tears escape.

As Azareth made her way down to the dungeons, she shook away the tears. Taking a torch off the wall, she walked down the long hallway. She could hear light breathing coming from the cell at the end. She stopped outside of it, holding the torch up to the cell bars. The broken figure of Sansun appeared in the fire light. His head was hung down over his chest and his hands were still bond to the chair.

“Wake up,” Azareth said. Sansun lifted his head slowly and turned his to her.

“Come back to finish me off?” Sansun asked. Azareth looked at him closer. His bruises had darken and the blood around his mouth and nose was dried and cracked. She shook her head and an sadistic grim grew on Sansun’s face. He dropped his head back and looked deep into her eyes. “I see, you want to contact King Bledric.”

“Are you capable?” Azareth looked at him full if disgust. She felt like he was getting too much pleasure from seeing her in this position.

“For you, of course,” Sansun said. Azareth nodded her head and unlocked the cell doors. She walked in and set the torch up on the wall. Turning to face Sansun, she glared at him before she leaned forward and took a hold of the ropes tying him to the chair.

“If you try anything funny, I swear to all the gods. You will burn.”

“Why would I do something to jeopardise this? It’s exactly what we want.”

Azareth hesitated. She could hear the voice in the back of her mind, telling her not to do this. She took in a deep breath and untied the ropes on Sansun’s wrists. He rubbed his wrists looking more comfortable. Azareth stepped back and narrowed her eyes at him.

“Now, how do you contact him?”

“A raven. I’ll draft a letter and send it to him. It’ll be there faster than you think, he’ll send me a response and then you’ll have your meeting.”

“Good, I’ll have a guard come to deal with your letter and send it off as soon as your done.” Azareth took the torch and left the cell. She locked it and left the dungeons, feeling drained.

Azareth was standing in her room, looking out the window over her kingdom. All the citizens going home for the night and the dragons were landing in the distance. She hugged herself, she felt defeated. Tears were slowly falling from her eyes. The idea of leaving her new home, friends and family, it hurt her. She knew it was only a mater of time before Bledric returned word to Sansun. The risk of it being a trap was high, but how else was she supposed to protect everyone.

She walked over to her desk and sat down. If something was to happen to her, she needed to make sure they knew her wishes. Taking a piece of parchment and a pencil, she started writing down her thoughts. As the words flowed out of her, there was a knock on the door. She jumped startled, then quickly hid the paper.

“Come in,” she said. The door opened revealing Jurah and Artibain. She smiled at them weakly as they crossed the room towards her.

“We need to talk,” Artibain said. Azareth could tell they were both serious by the dark expression on their faces. She gestured to the small seating area and they all moved to the center on the room. Once seated, Azareth looked at her advisors nervous.

“What did you want to talk about?” She asked them. They both looked at her with eyebrows raised.

“You’re joking, right?” Artibian asked. “This bloody suicide mission you’re so determined to go on.” Azareth flinched at his raised voice. It was hard to see how hurt they were. She wanted to take away the worry they were feeling.

“I know,” she said. Azareth dropped her gaze and stared at the floor. She couldn’t bring herself to look into their eyes.

“We can’t loose you,” Jurah said. Azareth nodded and tried to hide her sniffles. “A raven came in, seems Sansun was right about the quick response.”

“What?” Azareth said. She looked over and saw Jurah was holding out a letter. She took it from his hand and saw it was signed by Bledric.

“He want’s to meet you tomorrow, there’s a large valley a few hours flight to the east. You are supposed to go alone,” Jurah told her. Azareth read over the letter, knowing it had to be a trap.

“Don’t go,” Artibain said. “At least not alone. Bring back up.”

“I can’t risk that. We don’t know what he’ll do if he sees a group.”

“Gods, Azareth!” Artibain yelled. Azareth looked at him eyes wide and jaw hung open. “You can’t seriously be this stupid? It’s a trap and you’re going anyways.”

“I have to take that risk!” Azareth stood and faced Artibain. They stood facing each other, faces only inches apart. “I am the Queen and I will not sacrifice my people because I am scared. If you’re not happy about my decision fine, but I am not changing my mind.”

“I am not going to stand here and watch you get yourself killed,” Artibain said. He stormed off, Azareth groaned loudly and felt tears burning her eyes. She couldn’t hold them back anymore. Jurah stood up and wrapped his arms around, pulling her into his chest.

“Shh, it’s all right,” Jurah said. Azareth laughed and pushed him off her.

“Don’t,” she said. “I know you’re just as pissed at me.” She walked away from him, going back to look out the window.

“Of course I’m upset,” Jurah said. Azareth hugged herself and shook her head. “I am trying to understand why you have to go, but I am fighting with forcing you to stay.”

“I have to do this, the kingdom needs-”

“What about what I need?” Jurah asked, cutting her off. Azareth turned and look at him. Confusion clear on her face. “I can’t live with out you.”

“Jurah,” Azareth said. Jurah stepped up in front of her and she looked up at him shocked.

“You’re so deep in my heart, you’ve become a part of me,” Jurah said. Azareth looked at him full love, needing to show him how much he meant to her. She reached up and pulled him down towards her face. Their lips touched and Azareth felt Jurah’s hands find their place on her waist.

The sweet simple kiss grew in passion. The longing they had felt for each other cementing in the moment. Jurah leaned down and picked Azareth up, causing Azareth to release a gasp. Jurah carried Azareth over to the large bed, he laid her down. Azareth looked up at Jurah’s face, he looked at her. His eyes skimming over her full of lust. Azareth reached down and pulled his shirt over his head. Jurah found Azareth’s lips returning the passion she showed him.

“Jurah,” Azareth said. Jurah moved and began to kiss her jaw, moving down towards her neck.

“Azareth,” Jurah whispered in her ear. Azareth felt a shiver go through her body. Jurah’s left hand dropped down and found it’s way under her dress. He ran his hand up her leg and stopped on her thigh. His fingers brushed the new scar from the arrow she took. He pulled back and looked down at her thigh, the dress bunched up around her hips. He turned and looked back at her, locking eyes.

“You’ve been through so much,” Jurah said. Azareth nodded and gently touched the scar on his ribs.

“So have you,” she told him. He smirked and leaned over her. Azareth smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him towards her. Their lips met and their bodies collided.

Azareth woke up naked in her bed. She turned to see Jurah was laying beside her on his back, he was fast asleep. She turned to see it was still dark out, but the sky was beginning to lighten. She climbed out of her bed slowly and snuck across the room to her wardrobe. She knew sneaking out of the room before Jurah woke up was cruel, but it was the only way she could save her kingdom.

After she was dressed in black leather pants and a white shirt. She put on her long black leather jacket that hung around to thighs. She knew it wouldn’t be the best armour, but it would help some. She snuck out of the room and made sure to close the door a silently as she could.

After she was started down the hallway, she made her way towards the front entrance. It was early and the castle wasn’t awake yet. She ran down the stairs towards the front door, she was only feet away when someone cleared their throat. She turned and saw Artibain was standing next to the stairs, hidden from sight. She groaned a bit and turned to leave again.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Artibain asked her. She stopped, her hands on the door. She turned around and looked at him, he took a few steps forward.

“You know,” she said. He sighed and shook his head.

“Azareth, please don’t do this,” he said. He walked up to her and she looked away from him. Staring at the door, she heard him stop right behind her. “I know I said horrible things, but it’s only because I care about you.”

“I have to do this, please, let me go,” she said. Artibain sighed and put his hand on her shoulder.

“I know you care about everyone, but what about yourself?” He asked her. She shrugged him off and pushed the doors open.

“I don’t have time for this,” she said. Azareth took off running. Artibain was shocked as he stared off after her. Azareth ran through the center of the city, past all the merchant stalls and towards the training grounds. She ran down the hill towards the sleeping dragons, when she spotted Cephie. She stopped running when Cephie woke up and looked towards her confused.

“Cephie, we need to go,” Azareth said. She began to climb onto Cephie’s back, getting herself into position.

“Why? What’s going on?” Cephie asked.

“Please, we can’t stay here,” Azareth. She looked over at the castle as Cephie sat up and stretched out her legs. There were torches coming from the castle and she could hear voice shouting in the distance.

“Please, Cephie. I’m begging you, take off,” Azareth pleased. Cephie didn’t wait any longer, she kicked off the ground and took off. Azareth looked down and saw the familiar faces of her loved ones. Jurah stood out front holding his torch up staring at Azareth mortified. Azareth looked away and forced herself to focus on the shy ahead.

“Azareth!” She heard Jurah yell. Tears burned her eyes as they banked to the left and headed east towards Asleria.